Timing device for jump-spark ignition systems.



PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908.

` W. I). EOREMAN. TIMING DEVICE IOR JUMP SPARK IGNITION SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5. 1907.

' l engines,

and .the bearings in grounded. l Referring to the accompanying drawings- `Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of my WILLIAM D. FOREMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TIMING DEVICE FOB J-UMP-SPARK IGNITION'SYSTEIS.

Specification of Lettc'arsv Patent.'

Application filed July 5, 1907. Serial No. 382,226.

T o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM. D. Foam/IAN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of'Cook and State of Illinois, have vinventeda new and'useful Improvement inTimin DevicesforJump-Spark gnition Systems, o which the following is a specification. n

My invention relates to improvements in devices for. timin the spark and thereby regulating the eXp osion in gasa'nd gasolene and is more especially designed for usel in engines with' which automobiles are equipped. A device of this character as generally stationary member provided with a circular series of contacts and a rotary Amember (usually the valve-'shaft or cam-shaft of the engine) journaled in the adjustable stationary member and carrying a brush adapted to be rotated against the contacts', the rotating member being connected with the battery in a sparking circuit, and the wire leading therefrom being grounded on the engine.1 In operation, as the brush successively breaks connectionI with the contacts, electric arcs are produced with the result of forming deposits upon the contacts, which, in the continued operation of the device, accumulates to such` an extent as to render the contact imperfect, thus impairing the efliciency of the device. Furthermore, it has been the practice to ground the current from the rush through the shaft or rotary member which the shaft is journaled, with the result that, by reason of wear in the bearings and the presence of lubricant therein, imperfect conductivity ensues, causing failure or irregularity of explosion in the engine. f

My object is to overcome these defects, and this I accomplish by roviding a novel construction of device whic 1, in its operation, will cause the contacts to -be automatically cleaned, and by which the current is reliably improved timing-device, with the cap or facelate removed; Fig. 2, a section ltaken at the ine 2 on Fig. 1, andviewed in the direction of the arrow; and Fig. 3 is a sectionv through the binding-post and contact-member, taken at the line 3 on Fig. 2, and viewed in the direction of the arrow. In the drawings 4 indicates the valve-shaft constructed comprises an adjustable *it is desired to use the device.

or cam-,shaft of an engine, with one of its bearings shown at 41, and upon the end of the shaft is a head or rotary member 5 confined to-rotate therewith by means of a set-screw 6 passing through a flange 7 at one end of the head, which terminates at its opposite end in a reduced portion' 8, forming a shoulder 9 against y Journaled upon-the head and confined be-v tween the fiange 7 and washer 10, is a sleeve 11 carrying a disk 12, and projecting from the latter is an arm 13 -to which ispivoted a rod 14 for the purpose hereinafter explained;

Upon the face of the disk is fastened, as by bolts, a ring 15 formed of any desired insulating material arranged to concentrically surround the reduced portion 8 of the head or rotary member', and secured in the ring, to conform to and be flush with its inner surface, is a series of oountersunk metal contact- Apieces 16, of a number correspondin0r to the number of cylinders of the engine with which These pieces, of which four are shown in the present case, are spaced uniformly apart, and each is held in place by a shank 17 passing through the ring 15 Where it is threaded to receive a binding-post 18.

Extending through the reduced portion 8, transversely thereof, and retaining the washer 1() in place, is a tube 1 9, of somewhat less length than the internalI diameter of the ring, being fastened centrally within said reduced portion in any desired manner to pre- 'vent' its movement therein. Within this tube, at one end, is a contactbrush 20,'pwhile similarly fitting its opposite end is a socket-member 21 formed of insulating material, adapted to receive a wiper 22 for cleaning the contact-pieces 16. This Wiper may be formed, as' represented, of a strip of wire gauze,. referably brass, wound u on itself to a size Just sufficient to permit o its being crowded into the socket-memberV 21, and interposed between this member and the brush Z0 is a spring 23 for the purpose of forcing the socket-member and brush apart and thereby insuring their engagement with the inner surface of the ring 15 and the faces of the contact-pieces 16.

VSecured on the ring is a covering-cap 24 for inclosing the' brush, contacts and Wiper provide upon the cap ing-post 26, chambered from its inner end, is

Patented June 2, 1908.

,which isy confined a washer 10.7,;kv

Fitting loosely 50 a contactcleaner slidably su screwed into a boss centrally locatedl on the cap, its inner end being preferably spun down around a spring-pressed contact-plunger 27 to inclose a flange 28 upon the latter.

5 A stem extends back from the'contact-plunger and enters a hole in the binding-post beyond its chamber to furnish a uide for the contactlunger which is normal yforced outwardly y a spring 29 within the chamber surrounding the stem and .bearing against the flange 28.

In practice,- as hereinbefore stated, this tilning-deveis usually placed upon the valve-shaftorcam-shaft of the engine, asindicated in the drawings, but it may be otherwise placed and suitably geared to such camshaft to rotate in unison therewith; and the device is wired with the engine and other parts 1n the customary manner to produce,

20 1n operation, the desired electric circuits, but

this being well known in the art and forming no part of my invention'it is not necessary to illustrate it in the drawings.

In constructing a timing-device of this character, provision must be Lmade for adjusting the series of contacts around the brush and in relation thereto while the engine is running, and this is made necessary by the fact that under certain conditions it is essential (to produce the best results) to cause the explosions m the various cylinders of the engine `to take place earlier or later with the pistons of the respective cylinders at given points in their reciprocations. Provvision 1s made for accomphshing this adjustyment by mounting the disk, to which is attached the ring carrying the electric contactiecesupon the movab e member, as heretoore described and shown in the drawing, and 40 by attaching to the arm 13 on the disk 12 the ber and an adjlustable stationary member provided with e Iectrical lcontact-pieces, of a j rush and a spring-'pressed contact-cleaner supported on said rotary member. v 3. In Va timin -device of the-character described, the com ination with a rotary .member and an adjustable stationar member provided with electric contact-p1eces, of a rush and a contact-cleaner composed' of metal gauze carried by and insulatedfrom the rotary member to coperate with said contact-pieces, for the pur ose set forth.

4. In a timing-device o y the character described, the combination with a rotary member and an adjustable member rovided with electrical r contact-pieces, of a rush carried bysaid rotary member, a socket-member of insulating material confined in the rotary member, and a metallic contact-cleaner in said socket, for the purpose set forth.

5. In a' timin -devic'e of the character described, the com ination with a rotary -member and an ladjustable stationary member rovided with electrical contact-pieces, of a brush and a' contact-cleaner carried by the rotary member and spring-pressed to extend them against said contact-pieces, for the purpose set forth.

6. In a'timinv-device of the character described, the comcbination with a rotary member andy an adjustable stationary rn'ember having a ring provided on its inner surface with a series of contactieces, of a brush and a contact-cleaner carrie by the rotary member, and comprising a tube, the' sliding b1 ush and the cleaner being in oppositeends of the tube, and a spring interposed between said brush and wiper, for the pur ose set forth.

7. In .a timing-device of t e character de-l scribed, the comtbination with a rotary member` and anV adjustablev stationary member having a ring rovided on its inner surface with aseries o contactieces, of a tube car-l -ried by the rotary mem er, a brush slidably confined in one end o f the tube, a socketmember of insulating material in the opposite end of the tube, a contact-cleaner insaid l e socket-member, and a s ring interposed between said brush and soc et-member, for the purpose set forth. v

' I ILLIAM D. FOREMAN.. In presence of*v I "RALPH SCHAEFER, L HEISLAR. 

